Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz

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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz

devashish_paul

Aug 27, 08 13:29

Post #1 of 10 (386 views)

Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz	Can't Post

hey guys, I know we like to hammer the airlines for charging triathletes, but if you are going to IMC, next year, read this.

Air Canada Jazz (regional affiliate of Air Canada), runs multiple daily flights from Vancouver to Penticton. It is a short 1 hour hop over the coastal mountains and you are in the Okanagan valley. The aircraft are small Dash8 Turboprops or Regional jets. There is barely room for baggage if all passengers took their full allottment, certainly no room for bike boxes.

So the week of IMC, Air Canada Jazz runs a truck service from Vancouver Airport to Penticton. If you connect in Vancouver, chances are your bike will not be put on the Turboprop. The bikes get "hoarded up" at the airport and dumped on a truck overnite. Next day, Air Canada Jazz delivers your bike to your hotel.

On the way out, you drop off you bike 50m from the finish line (the day after the race). They tag your bag/box and load it onto the truck. This service only applies if you are connecting to an Air Canada or Star Alliance Partner airline (ex Lufthansa, United, Singapore etc etc)...at least that is my understanding.

THEY DO NOT CHARGE YOU FOR YOUR BIKE

When you arrive at your final destination, chances are your bike is not there. This is good because it means that you don't have to haul your bike to your car, taxi, train, or bus. You just take your carry on and head home. Your bike arrives later that day, or the next day.

I am not sure if you pay on the way to Penticton. I used my Star Alliance Gold level to sweet talk the agent into not charging me (my bike bag is really small too and sub 22 Kg), but it is free on the way back.

Dev

leggett24

Aug 27, 08 13:36

Post #2 of 10 (372 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [devashish_paul] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My wife and I went to Vancouver with bikes when she did IMC. We flew WestJet. When we checked in I asked where I pay the extra for the bikes and they said, "why would you pay extra"?
The best way to get good service on Air Canada is to find a former Canadian employee, they're the only ones that hate the airline more than the rest of us.

lakercr

Aug 27, 08 15:13

Post #3 of 10 (295 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [leggett24] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I asked the Westjet agent in Kelowna about the surcharge for a bike case and got the same answer - there is no charge.

devashish_paul

Aug 29, 08 6:52

Post #4 of 10 (202 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [devashish_paul] [In reply to]	Can't Post

With all the bitching about airlines and travel costs, I'm bumping this one for people who did not see it a few days ago.

fred_h

Aug 29, 08 6:56

Post #5 of 10 (197 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [devashish_paul] [In reply to]	Can't Post

As per IMC web site you pay on the way in but it is free on the way out, but you need to leave Penticton under specific specifications (I believe the Monday) but yes as you point out and on top of it coming from Air Canada it is a pretty nice "gift".
I noticed it since I am considering giving it a shot to sign up for IMC 09 online this AM (but with travel cost (3 airfares + car rental & no more miles I might not even try since LP is a 3h drive)

Fred.

Raptor

Aug 29, 08 7:21

Post #6 of 10 (178 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [devashish_paul] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Didn't you say that your bike bag in another thread meets the requirements of regular luggage?

devashish_paul

Aug 29, 08 7:27

Post #7 of 10 (171 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [Raptor] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Weight wise it does, but it is more than the 62 inches of linear dimention (I believe that is the airline max before you go oversized). The bag is around 4x2.5x1 ft, which is well over 5 ft total.

Dev

devashish_paul

Aug 29, 08 7:29

Post #8 of 10 (165 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [fred_h] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Fred, are you going to do the IMLP+IMC double next year? Seriously, although my IMC was not that great, it is really cool to do 2 Ironmans off the training for one. If you have a solid 5 weeks at home in between to properly recover and train, it can certainly be done and both races can be done well.

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fred_h

Aug 29, 08 7:55

Post #9 of 10 (140 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [devashish_paul] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Nope I will not.
I can see the "benefit" of doing it, but I cannot push too much, I am "allowed" to train and participate in one 1 IM per year (and 2 if one day I end up going to Kona) and the idea of doing some riding in the Alps and/or Pyrenees starts to sink in, I am not going to push my luck too much :)

Fred.

Freespeed

Aug 29, 08 8:01

Post #10 of 10 (123 views)

Re: Big Props to Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz [devashish_paul] [In reply to]	Can't Post

British Airways don't charge for bikes full stop. In fact, they are positively bike friendly, no having to sweet talk check in staff.